Decker Island Wildlife Area

Description

The Decker Island Wildlife Area is a 34-acre property. Wildlife consists of a variety of terrestrial mammals, aquatic furbearers and bird populations. Birds comprise the major portion of wildlife, attributable to the habitats on and surrounding the island: open water, mudflats and riparian and emergent vegetation. These niches provide some environments for waterfowl, egrets, herons, gulls, terns and songbirds. The land surrounding Decker Island is used mainly for agriculture.

For more information, call the Bay Delta Region Fairfield office at (707) 428-2002.

Area History

Prior to construction of the Sacramento Deep-Water Ship Channel, the site was actually a part of the western shore of the Sacramento River. Decker Island was formed when the present river channel was dredged to the west. A large portion of the new island was subsequently used as a dredge disposal site. Relatively recent disposal of dredged materials in the island’s interior and along the eastern bank has severely limited plant growth. The property was designated as a wildlife area by the Fish and Game Commission in 1988.